American English Language School

You filed Form I-539, the receipt notice arrived, and now months go by with no news. For students waiting in Fullerton, that quiet stretch is exactly where change of status applications go wrong. Here is the short version of what the rules allow. You cannot start class until USCIS approves On a B-2 visitor visa you may not enroll or begin studying until your change of status is approved. Enrolling while you are in a non-student status is a violation, no matter how informal the class feels. Your status keeps running while you wait If your status was valid the day you filed, F-1 applicants do not have to hold status continuously all the way up to 30 days before the program start date. And if USCIS is slow and the school defers you to the next term, no extra filing is needed as long as your original status had not expired. Do not leave the country Departing the United States while Form I-539 is pending is generally treated as abandoning it. You would have to apply for the F-1 visa ...

If you are studying English in Fullerton with a college in mind, there is one number you should look up before you book another TOEFL test: the score the college itself actually requires. It is usually lower than students assume, and at some schools you do not need a TOEFL score at all. What Fullerton colleges ask for Cal State Fullerton asks international first-time freshmen for TOEFL iBT 61 or higher, IELTS 5.5 or higher, or PTE 43 or higher. Fullerton College accepts a wider range: TOEFL 61 for tests taken before January 2026 or a 4.0 band after, IELTS Band 5, Duolingo English Test 95, iTEP Level 3.5, or PTE Academic 44. If you cannot reach 61 on the TOEFL, you may already qualify on a different test. Check the admission page before you pay for another attempt. Your 2026 score report looks different Since January 21, 2026 the TOEFL reports scores on a 1 to 6 band scale in half-point increments, with a band for each section and an overall band that averages the four. That...

Update, September 20, 2026: The September 15 deadline discussed below did not take effect. A federal court paused the new F-1 rule on September 14, 2026, and F-1 students remain on duration of status for now. For the latest, read Change of Status to F-1 in Irvine: The September Deadline Is On Hold . If you are in the United States on a B-2 visitor visa and thinking about studying English, one date should be on your calendar: September 15, 2026 . That is when a new DHS rule replaces "duration of status" for F-1 students with a fixed period of admission — and it changes what a change of status approval actually gives you. Why the timing matters A change of status approval is itself an admission decision. If USCIS approves your Form I-539 before September 15, you still receive duration of status, and transition provisions generally let you continue to the program end date on your I-20. You also keep the 60-day grace period instead of the new 30 days, and any English study c...

Thinking about switching to an F-1 student visa so you can study English full-time? If you are already in the United States, a change of status may let you do it without leaving the country. Here is a quick, practical overview for anyone considering ESL classes in Fullerton . What a Change of Status Involves A change of status moves you from your current nonimmigrant category to F-1 student status while you stay in the U.S. Instead of applying for a visa abroad, you file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and wait for approval before beginning classes. The Basic Steps First, get accepted at an SEVP-certified school. As an SEVP-certified English school in Fullerton , American English Language School can issue your initial Form I-20. Next, pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, then file Form I-539 with USCIS before your Form I-94 expires. If your current status does not allow study, wait for approval before enrolling full-time. A Few Things to Watch You must have valid statu...

Have you ever heard someone say they were "under the weather" and wondered why weather had anything to do with feeling sick? Or maybe a coworker said they "hit the nail on the head" and there was no hammer in sight? Welcome to the world of English idioms. Idioms are phrases where the meaning is completely different from the individual words. Native speakers use them constantly at work, in school, and in everyday conversation. If you are studying ESL classes Fullerton , learning idioms is one of the fastest ways to start sounding like a natural English speaker. 5 Idioms to Know Right Now 1. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew — To take on more than you can handle. ("I signed up for four classes and a part-time job — I really bit off more than I could chew.") 2. Lone Wolf — Someone who prefers to work alone. Common in workplace and academic conversations. 3. Stay Put — To remain in one place. Simple but used constantly in everyday English. 4. Hit the Nail on ...

 At AELS Fullerton , our students are learning English through real conversations, not just textbooks! This week’s class focused on two popular idioms — “Burn the Midnight Oil” and “Elephant in the Room.” ✨ Burn the Midnight Oil means staying up late to finish important work or study. Students shared stories about late-night studying and practiced using the phrase naturally in conversation. 🐘 Elephant in the Room describes a big problem that everyone knows about but doesn’t want to talk about. Through fun class discussions, students learned how to express their thoughts clearly and confidently in English. At American English Language School Fullerton , we make learning English enjoyable and practical. Our small classes, conversation-focused lessons, and cultural topics help every student feel confident using English in daily life. 📍 Learn more about our ESL programs at www.aels.edu or visit our AELS Fullerton location on Google Maps to experience small-group English cla...